Pat Kennedy picks mom over Senate bid

Boston Herald ^ | March 31, 2005 | David Wedge

[billorites]

As his mother recovers in the hospital after being found passed out on a Hub street, U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy has nixed an anticipated bid to join his dad in the Senate.

     In a statement released to the media, Kennedy (D-R.I.) said, ``my family means everything to me,'' thanked the public for the ``outpouring of support'' for his 68-year-old, alcoholic mother Joan and asked for ``privacy.''
     He said he will continue his work as a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee.Kennedy said Rhode Island has landed a half-billion dollars in federal funding during his tenure.
     ``I am grateful for the support and encouragement I have received to run for the Senate, but over the past few days, I have determined that I can make the greatest difference in the lives of Rhode Island families by remaining on the Appropriations Committee . . . and fighting for their priorities,'' Kennedy said.
     Meanwhile, the good Samaritan who found Joan Kennedy told her story for the first time last night.
     Connie Bacon told WHDH-TV (Ch. 7) Kennedy did not appear to be intoxicated when she found her lying outside Bacon's Back Bay apartment early Monday evening.
     ``She was a little out of it but that could have been because she banged her head,'' said Bacon, who called 911.
     It remains unclear exactly what happened to Kennedy. Those close to the family say she was found 3 a.m. Tuesday by a passerby, but a Boston EMS spokesman said an ambulance responded to a call for a ``woman down''at 5:20 p.m. Monday.
     Joan Kennedy's ex-husband, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy [related, bio] (D-Mass.), said he and his family are ``very saddened'' and added, ``We wish her the very best. It's been a long, difficult, very hard struggle. I think people's lives that have been touched by this can understand.''
     Patrick Kennedy is expected to be named his mother's permanent caretaker.
     In an exclusive interview Tuesday, a shaken Patrick Kennedy told the Herald his mother was found early that morning out cold on the street by a pedestrian who called for help.
     The former socialite, who has publicly fought alcoholism for years, suffered a concussion and multiple shoulder fractures. She was at Massachusetts General Hospital yesterday awaiting surgery. Family friend David Nunes said yesterday she was ``in good spirits.''
     ``She's doing well. She's laughing, joking,'' Nunes said. ``She's looking forward to a full recovery.''

[billorites]

``She was a little out of it but that could have been because she banged her head,'' said Bacon, who called 911.

That would explain it.

[sure_fine]

so he chose bread'n butter over autographs...good choice

[DustyMoment]

I'm not a Kennedy fan, but I honor him for making the right choice.

[SouthernFreebird]

I don't get it. She has a messed up shoulder and is expected a full recovery.So why would he have to choose between her and the Senate?

[Hatteras]

"Joan Kennedy's ex-husband, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy [related, bio] (D-Mass.), said he and his family are ``very saddened'' and added, ``We wish her the very best. It's been a long, difficult, very hard struggle. I think people's lives that have been touched by this can understand.''"

All I can say is Teddy is one sick and disturbed individual.

[billorites]

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy said he and his family are ``very saddened''

and he proceeded to drown his sorrows...

[jocon307]

"So why would he have to choose between her and the Senate?"

Because his mother was found inexplicably lying in the street at 3 am. He and his siblings have already been made her legal guardians but apparantly the woman needs more than just legal oversight. The lady obviously has some serious problems, whether or not drinking is still one of them I won't presume to say.

I feel very bad for all of them, but her son is doing the right thing. And you gotta admit, we don't see that too often from this group.

[Popman]

...And you gotta admit, we don't see that too often from this group.

Maybe a first in mythical Camelot.

[Guillermo]

Though pro-Iraq war Patches duking it out with his pro-terrorist Dad on the Senate floor might have been interesting...

[SouthernFreebird]

If he became a Senator like Kerry he'd have plenty of time to take care of mom plus rake in the dough.

[jazzlite]

"I'm not a Kennedy fan, but I honor him for making the right choice."

He is absolutely a positive example in this situation. Give credit where credit is due..

[EDINVA]

A messed up shoulder is the least of Joan Kennedy's problems. The poor soul is a hard-core alcoholic who, but for her family's care and money, would be your average baglady on the streets of Boston. Her son has chosen to oversee her care. If I'm not mistaken it was Patrick who had a leg amputated as a child because of cancer. It may be that that event caused him to have more heart than some others in the blood line.

[dennisw]

dude is gay as the Village People but props to him for taking care of mom.

[SouthernFreebird]

He's still going to be working. It's not like he's going to stay at home and take care of mom.

[Little Bill]

Patches makes his father look like a gentleman. His mother is an unrecovered drunk, his cousins are junkies, and he likes blow.

He ain't running because he figures he won't win, end of story.

[Boston Tea Party]

It was Patches' brother who lost the leg to cancer.

[Maria S]

"dude is gay as the Village People but props to him for taking care of mom."


Is this true? I'd never heard anything about ANY Kennedy being homosexual! I thought all the guys were major skirt-chasers! Is Patrick not married?

Sorry, I'm not up on the Kennedys these days; long way from Texas to Massachusetts.

[Andy'smom]

He ain't running because he figures he won't win, end of story.


The polls that were commissioned didn't look good so this is a graceful way out.

[Loyal Buckeye]

Call me a cynic. If he thought he could win, he would run.